News Dabba 3 August: 5 stories across the web for a balanced news diet

Anushka Vani brings you daily updates that the internet is talking about through various news websites. Here's a glance through some of the National and International news updates, from the state of Kansas protecting abortion rights, Rishi Sunak sliding down to the second position, China preparing for an attack as Pelosi arrives in Taiwan, to Maharashtra's political debate on Sena vs Sena and Russian soft drink makers capturing 50 percent of the country's market.

The State of Kansas votes to protect abortion rights, The Guardian reports

The report says that the state of Kansas has rejected the amendment to remove the right to abortion from the state’s constitution. Kansas, a deeply conservative republican state, became the first state in the United States to put abortion rights to a vote since the US Supreme Court in its Roe vs. Wade ruling, overturned constitutional protections for abortion. The state is now a safe haven for abortion in the Midwest, as it is one of the few states in the region where it remains legal to perform the procedure, says the report. Read the full report on The Guardian.

The Wire’s analytical report on Rishi Sunak falling down to the second rank as a choice for the next UK Prime Minister

In the race to be the next Prime Minister (PM) of the United Kingdom (UK), opinion polls suggest that Rishi Sunak is now lagging behind Liz Truss, becoming only the second choice for the post, The Wire reports. The analysis states that when the race to replace the current PM Boris Johnson began, Sunak was the frontrunner favored by a majority of Conservative Members of the Parliament (MPs). However, Liz Truss has now emerged as the favorite candidate, winning growing support from her colleagues in the cabinet. The article also discusses an opinion poll of party members showing that Truss was leading with 60 percent to Sunak’s meager 26 percent. Read the full report on The Wire.

China hits back at the US on Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, BBC's live update

Top US Democrat Nancy Pelosi met with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen despite sharp warnings from China. During her visit, Pelosi stated that the US's commitment to democracy between the two nations is iron-clad. After her visit, China claimed that it would hold a series of live-fire military drills in the air and sea around the island. Taiwan has said that the move violates the island's independence and amounts to a blockade. Read the full report on BBC.

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Hindustan Times reports on Maharashtra’s Sena vs Sena debate in Supreme Court

According to the HT report, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who is representing the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena in the Supreme Court (SC), argued that the Eknath Shinde faction cannot claim to be the original party. Additionally, senior advocate Abhishek Singhvi who also appeared for Thackrey's side, said that the only defense available to the Eknath Shinde faction is a merger with the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP). While Harish Salve who appeared for Eknath Shinde’s faction said that “In India, we confuse political parties with some leaders. I belong to Shiv Sena. My chief minister refuses to meet me...I want a change of CM. This is not anti-party; this is intra-party.” Read the full report on HT.

Reuters' exclusive report suggests Russian soft-drink makers targeting 50% of the nation's market

After Coke and Pepsi cut their market ties with Russia, local soft-drink producer Chernogolovka is aiming for a 50 percent share of the country’s around $9 billion market, reports Reuters. With the sanctions and restrictions caused by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, many western firms withdrew from the Russian market, creating an opportunity to local businesses and entrepreneurs. Read the full report on Reuters.